Joint High-Speed Vessel USNS Spearhead departs on Maiden Deployment

Posted On
Friday, 17 January 2014 10:49

a

Naval
Forces News - USA

Joint
High-Speed Vessel USNS Spearhead departs on Maiden Deployment

The
U.S. Navy's first joint high-speed vessel departed Joint Expeditionary
Base Little Creek-Ft. Story today on its maiden deployment to the U.S.
6th Fleet Area of Responsibility. USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) is expected
to remain in U.S. 6th Fleet until May 2014 and sail to the U.S. 4th
Fleet area of responsibility through the end of fiscal year 2014. While
deployed, the ship will undergo planned experimentation and testing
to determine the ship's capabilities.

"The
JHSV ship class will play an important part in the future of our joint
forces in terms of affordability, flexibility, speed and agility,"
said Rear Adm. T.K. Shannon, commander, Military Sealift Command. "Its
performance to-date is solid and I think its first deployment will offer
us a great opportunity to further demonstrate the important capabilities
this new class brings to our fleet."

Spearhead is fast, flexible and maneuverable, ideally
suited for rapid intra-theater transport. The ship supports diverse
operations, including operational maneuver and sustainment, relief
operations in small or damaged ports and rapid transport as an alternative
to airlift.

"I think the ship will do very well when it joins
the fleet. It keeps expanding upon its own capabilities. It's every
bit as flexible as expected, if not more," said Capt. Douglas
Casavant, Spearhead's civil service master.

The
338-foot catamaran is equipped with a 20,000-square foot mission bay
that can be quickly adapted to multiple uses. Spearhead and the other
JHSVs in its class can move more than 600 tons of troops and equipment
1,200 nautical miles. The ship's flight deck can also support flight
operations for a wide variety of aircraft, including a CH-53 Super Stallion.

A civil service mariner crew of 22 navigates, operates
and maintains the vessel, which will also host a military detachment
commanded by Navy Capt. Marc Lederer.

"Like any of our Navy's ships, one of Spearhead's
real strengths is its crew," said Lederer. "This deployment
represents an exciting new chapter in warfighter support, and we look
forward to learning what Spearhead can do as the ship stretches its
legs."